The Portland daily press., 1887-06-16

ical Association there is a single member
who, when asked the direct question if he
thought the non-enforeement of measure
which the Executive honestly believed was
not law constituted violation of his oath
OF office, would answer in the affirmative.
The fact Is, the Association adopted their
resolutions too hastily and without sufficient
consideration of their full force and effect.
Their sober second thought will, we believe,
correct the manifest injustice of them.
The medical registration bill was always
favored by the PRESS, and it was with re-
gret that we learned that the Governor had
vetoed it, But his constitutional power to
veto it was just as clear as his power to APP
prove it. The circumstances of that veto have
become pretty familiar to the public since the
legislature adjourned. Coy. Bodwell stated
them fully and frankly to the Board of Cen
sors of the Medical Association. He signed
the bill hesitatingly and sent it to the
Secretary of States office. But on fuller in.
formation be changed his mind, recalled the
bill from the Seeretary's office, drew line
through his signature and sent the bill to
the Senate, accompanied with veto mes
sage. The transaction as far as the Govern
or was concerned was perfectly frank, open
and above board. The Board of Censors
themselves acquit him of all double dealing
in the matter Their language is: "Your
committee did not doubt the sincerity of the
Governors disayowal of an intention to ex-
ceed his authority or to conceal any act per-
formed by him in the premises" Whether
the Governor had the legal power, had the
legal right to recall the bill after it had gone
to the Secretary of States Office is
question about which there is room
perhaps for difference of opinion.
Lawyers disagree on that point The Cover
nor was advised that he had such right, and
thoroughly believed it. And the Senate,
which knew the facts, by accepting and sus-
tanning his veto message assented to that
view. Accepting then all the facts as stated
by the Board of Censors, ,(and it must be borne
in mind that the Governor says in one of his
letters to the Board that his recollection of
them differs in some important particulars
from the Board's) the sum and substance of
the Governors offending is this:
He signed a bill besitatingly, and sent it to
the Secretary of State; soon after, before
the notification of his approval had been
transmitted to the Senate, he changed HIS
mind, recalled the bill, drew his pen through
his signature, and sent a message to the SEN
ate yetoing the BILL The Senate sustained
the veto. Under this state of facts the Gov
ernor does not believe that the measure is O
law, and declines to appoint the commission
it calls for. The Medical Association, on the
other hand, consider that under this state OF
facts the measure is law, and charge the
Governor with violating his oath because be
refuses to treat it as such. That is the whole
controversy in nutshell, as far as it relates
to the Governor.
We do not believe that an unprejudiced
person can discover in the Governors atti-
tude any ground for the accusation that he
has violated his oath or sought to usurp
powers which the constitution does not give
him.